This morning’s story on Westport’s (lack of) bus shelters should have noted some of the people who have pushed the issue to the forefront.
Westport Planning & Zoning Commission alternate Neil Cohn started the Economic Growth Subcommittee, and reached out to 3rd Selectwoman Melissa Kane. As subcommittee chair, he made this a P&Z-sponsored text amendment.
The initiative is part of the P&Z’s broader approach of looking at many types of equity.
Pippa Bell Ader and Jennifer Johnson have worked on the issue for a long time too.
In addition, P&Z chair Danielle Dobin made an important comment at last night’s meeting. She noted that women waiting on the side of the road, waiting to wave down buses after a long day at work, face an additional hazard besides bad weather and safety.
Too often, men driving by honk, yell out crude invitations and remark on their bodies.
“It’s terrible. But we can do something about it,” Dobin said. “Shelters don’t just protect against wind and rain. They also reduce street harassment.
This is not a Westport bus shelter. It’s located at Lexington, Kentucky. There, says former Westporter Fran Taylor, the city initiated an art/design competition, called Art In Motion..Clever and beautiful bus shelters emerged, including solar panels. Lexington used federal funds as seed money.